“Gangsta Sh#t…” - André 3000’s 5 Hardest Verses
AUDIO By David D. on August 7, 2009 at 11:04 am
I had the misfortune of catching Eminem’s best friend’s show, Wild N’ Out, a few days ago and Big Boi was a guest host. One of the comedians asked Big how it felt to share a stage with someone sporting a pointy bra. Yea, it was funny, but Big shot back a simple response about how Dré would probably whoop said comedian’s ass.
And you know what, I’m inclined to agree. Yeah, Dré has been known to be the softer, more eclectic of the duo. But Mr. Benjamin goes hard (pause your damn self). If you need proof, below the break are André 3000’s hardest verses*.
“Mamacita” (from Aquemini)
One line: “Grab her by her neck/throw her on the wall/Say bitch don’t ever disrespect me/Never not at all.”
Those bars go through my head at least once a week when I’m in a relationship. Though this verse is about lesbian love gone wrong, Dre channeled an inner angry man to grunt out those lines. Dre speaks slightly off-beat with a super-annunciated flow that only adds to the grating, aggressive tone that reflects the sudden mood shift in the story.
“Ain’t No Thang” (from Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik)
One line: “A nigga ready from the get-go/Blao! Ya’ll hear my shit go/It’s André can yo’ punk ass come out to play?!”
It’s almost unfair to include Outkast’s debut in this list because it definitely full of posturing and gun talk that the group abandoned soon after this album was done. This track stands out, though as I remember 3 Stacks sounding like the coldest man on the planet when I first heard this track. It’d be interesting to know what this Dre would think seeing Rooster dancing on the piano at the end of Idlewild.
“Gangsta Shit” (from Stankonia)
When someone murders a track, the first instinct as a listener is to fast forward to that verse and let it ride out. However, “Gangsta Shit” is all about the build-up. There is something about waiting for André to come through in the last hook with the “Do you reallyyy…yea!” to let you know he’s going to shut down shop. Then it starts “Outkast with a K/now them niggas is hard.” This verse personifies Dre’s placement in Hip-Hop perfectly.
“I still take my guitar and take a walk in the park” even while wrecking tracks.
Of course his walk in the park is tantamount to Godzilla’s stroll through Tokyo as Three Stacks destroys everything in his way. He even sings a bit at the end, but it still comes off tough as nails.
“Hootie Hoo” (from Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik)
“A boyyyy to raiiiise at herrrrr young aaaaage/ No help from him but she’s aliiiiiiive”- 3 Stacks crooning on “She’s Alive” from The Love Below.
Just nine years before Dre sang these words about his mom, he penned a tale of legendary assholiness: “Two weeks later she called me with some bullshit/Talking about her period late, guess what I did *click*/ Naw it couldn’t be me, not me…”
It’s one of the most hilarious and heartless endings to a verse you’re going to hear (You see where it got Kane in Menace II Society) and it’s buried deep in Kast’s catalog in a track that is seldom referenced. And let’s not forget that it begins with “now playin these bitches is my favorite sport.” That’s tender, LoveHater.
“Return Of The G” (from Aquemini)
Here’s a blast from the past: opening up a brand-new highly-anticipated CD and popping it in the player. Then listening to the first track and being completely blown away. Dre shed the “pointy bra” and rocked a Ginsu blade to shed the first verse in the Aquemini album with a double-timed near-snarl about the state of Hip-Hop and Black people in general. His verse was so aggressive that Big Boi had to sit back, relax and watch his little girl blow bubbles. And Dre’s verse features the all too prophetic plea to talk about “Time travellin, something mind-unravelin’, GET DOWN!”
*Attention: these aren’t necessarily Dre’s best or most penetrating verses. They’re just bars that show he can get gully too.
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, LOOSIES, MUSIC — Tags: Andre 3000, Aquemini, Big Boi, Eminem, Nick Cannon, Outkast, Southernplayalisticadillac, Stankonia, The Love Below
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66 Comments
“Harder than a nigga tryin’ to impress God…”
Just once, I would like a bitch to suck on my nouns while I eat her verbs, but I have yet to meet that special lady.
Synthesizer should get an honorable mention but good 5 nonetheless
“Y’all ask me what the fuck I’m doin’, I’m releasing anger.”
Classic.
I know there’s some shit off ATLiens that should be here, but that’s one of those albums that I see more as an album than a collection of songs, so I can’t always remember which lyrics come from which tracks.
same ish with Big Boi, next article. pay homage to him too
Random: Everytime I hear Slimm’s verse on “Gangsta Shit” it makes me do a pimp dance
in before da art of storytellin part 2
$5 says Dre knows karate or some form of martial arts.
I say you could include the whole first album.
Since Dre wrote a heaping helping of Big’s early stuff, does he get double consideration when “the best rapper alive” convos start?
Royal Flush
^Yea, I def could have just done the first album cuz they were on some other ish…but that woulda been cheating. I always wonder what they thing about when they listen to all that gun-totin and whatnot on the first album.
And Dre wrote Big’s early stuff? I didn’t know that
@Greums…a verse quoting the Hokie Pokie, while dope, can’t be on a list of “HARD” verses lol
Dave I know you’re the best cause you had Hootie Hoo on there.
sometimes, when Boi raps wit a slow flow he has tha damn diddy’s voice lol Outkast - “Hootie Hoo” just da few first seconds
Hell yeah. Dope post yo.
But since you brought it up… what is everyone’s fave 3000 verse?
Yet again, Red Velvet goes overlooked… don’t act like that isn’t like some of the toughest visuals he ever lined up.
In the Ho (HO!) tel (TEL!) room (ROOM!) shot uuuuuuuppppp….
“Red Velvet” = Lava lamps & yellow weed. ZZZZZZZ
“Red Velvet” is nasty. Dre does go off on that one.
I didn’t know 3000 ghostwrote for Big Boi either. I do agree he must be nice with his hands; especially after Badu turned him out. lol
The D.O.C, Andre 3000, Common Sense, Jay Electronica
Erikah Badu is a good lyricass gal
I don’t know, Hey Ya was pretty gully.
dre wrote for big boi?
i need a link fam…i never knew that shit.
Arguing about Red Velvet with TC is like trying to discuss how great prime rib is with a member of PETA.
Man…David, I commend you for managing to pick just five. I probably would have driven myself crazy trying to narrow that down.
“Mamacita” was one of 3-Stacks best verses, at least in my eyes. Dope post homie.
The only other one that comes to mind is his verse from “Art of Storytellin’ Part 4″ from DJ Drama’s first Gangsta Grills album..
“I’m in my whatever, bumping 100 Miles and Runnin’
Runnin’, Runnin’, Runnin’, Runnin’
Summon, woman. Come in. Sit down
Heard you need some plumbing
Done and
I’m in a swell mood, a rather swole mood..”
That is one of the ‘Kast where the first time I heard it, I didn’t even get to Big Boi’s verse before I had to rewind it.. So tough.
Quality list, David. That verse from Hootie Hoo goes hard [II]!
“Now playin these bitches is my favorite sport..”
Good shit.
“Movin the wheel side to side like a slalom, Naw I ain’t got no problem, I’m just breakin the steering column”
-Benz or Beamer
Petey - Look it up. I specifically remember reading it in some magazine interview(s)
I did fam thats why i asked for a link i couldnt find it.
im one of the few that think big boi is legendary on the mic in his own right.
awesome post.
I agree with Dom. That verse from “Da Art of Storytellin’ Pt. 4″ kicks puppies. That solidified 3 Stacks in my top 5.
Andre is one of my favorite rappers ever… Period… One of the few to actually get better over time, yet still was absolutely incredible when he came out… The funniest shit was when he first came out rocking a turban, you wanted to diss him and everything, but the music was so dope that you just said “fuck it” and let him wear whatever the hell he wanted….
Gotty, I think it was a Blender article. I remember seeing it too.
Dre is one of my favorite musicians ever. Real music.
Where is Andre 3000 verse off of the song “Aquemini”????? thatz definitely top 5!!!! that should have been mention in this top 5!!!
[Andre Benjamin]
Twice upon a time there was a boy who died twice
and lived happily ever after but that’s another chapter
live from home of the brave with dirty dollars
& beauty parlors & baby ballers & bowling ball Impalas
& street scholars that’s majoring in culinary arts
You know how to work bread cheese & dough
from scratch but see the catch is you can get caught
Know what ya sellin’ what ya bought so cut that big talk
Let’s walk to the bridge now meet me halfway
now you may see some children dead off in the pathway
it’s them poor babies walkin’ slowly to the candy lady
It’s lookin’ bad need some hope
like the words maybe, if, or probably more than a hobby
when my turntables get wobbly they don’t fall
I’m sorry y’all I often drift I’m talkin’ gift
so when it comes you never look the horse inside it’s grill
of course you know I feel like the bearer of bad news
Don’t want to be it but it’s needed so what have you
Now question is every nigga with dreads for the cause?
Is every nigga with golds for the fall? Naw
So don’t get caught in appearance
it’s Outkast Aquemini another Black experience Okay
not to mention the second verse! even tho its short!
Now that I think about it…has Dre ever spit a wack verse?
He said he wrote Big Boi’s stuff because he was work and wasn’t taking stuff serious. Actually it was Cee-lo who said 3000 wrote his stuff
I think I just got pwned.
Jazzy Bells Dre 2nd verse …. lol ( honorable mention) …
Outkast as a whole has a great list of lyrics.
This is a dope list tho …
kinda LOL’ing at Dre verse on Hootie Hoo being “seldom referenced” we’re lucky to hear that shit often here…..if your at the right places. dope list. oh yeah i agree with Nick on the honerable mention for “Jazze Bell”….”all the girls we was liking in high school, now they dyking….{nasty bitches}”….LA Ried hated on them for that one, ahhha.
@archibald Yea I was like “who is this crazy @ss nigg@ with all this $hit on, but wait. He can spit?” it was all good from there. silver wigs, sholder pads and turbans.
Yo “Throw Some D’s Remix” should be mentioned in this convo….
Ain’t a hood nigga but a nigga from the ho-od
See mama stayed on me so I turned out pretty go-od
But if you wanna try it sucker now then we can do it
Ha ha sleep, Tylenol PM if I pull it
Sh-sh-sheep, count ‘em for the rest of ya life
Yeah yeah ya partner got away but now he vegetable-like
So so I sent his mom and dad a whole case of V8
He can die, any second, how much long it’s ‘gon take?!
‘Gon get it over with, oh what if, you were in my loafers then
You might be the dope but I would flush it down the toilet
Like the boys in blue, when they come through with them boots
And they kickin down the do’, and they don’t care who they shoot
But we do care who they shoot, so we do what we must do
So we act like we run track, then we run straight to the back
But they comin from the back, so we run back to the front
They say get down on ya knees we say what the fuck you want?!
They want cheese, they want bread, they want dough, they want mo’
Than I wanna give ‘em but if I keep talkin they won’t know
That my cousin in the back, and we call him Roto-Rooter
Slash plumber, cash runner, and he fire on them computers
Log out!
I just learned that Dre wrote for Big Boi??? Wow didnt know that. I love TSS keep up the good work guys
Where is Andre 3000 verse off of the song “Aquemini”????? thatz definitely top 5!!!! that should have been mention in this top 5!!!
=================
We are talking HARDEST verses… “Aquemini” holds (in my opinion) probably Andre at his very very finest… but that’s cause it’s sheer genius… but it’s not that gully. But I mean… when the beat kicks back in???? Wooooooooo…. you shut your mouth when you’re talking to me…
Can’t say I argue with any of these too much. It’s a shame that OutKast has pretty much disappeared off the face of the Earth since the travesty that was Idlewild.
Great article; Hootie Hoo is my ish!
LMAO Idlewild I refuse to watch that movie
I agree with a lot of these. This article more takes me back than anything else though. Just nice listening to some old Outkast that I’ve not heard for a while - Hootie Hoo especially (not pulled out that debut for a LONG time).
Only reason to watch Idlewild is for Paula Patton.
Man, wut about Dre’s 1st verse off of “Babylon” from the ATLiens album.
The first 2 bars…..ooooooooweeeeee!
I came into this world, high as a bird, from second hand cocaine powder.
I know it sounds absurd,I never tooted , but it’s in my veins….
“Gangsta Shit” is one of ‘Dre’s all-time best verses, period. really his whole performance on “Stankonia” is unreal. the one album where he really lives up to his potential B.R.A. (yeah…acronym doesn’t work as well as GOAT) status.
baby did u hear it, yeah baby i heard it too…
Cosign on the Art of Storytellin 4 joint. That is definitely top two verses 3 stacks ever spit! mrantagonist dot com
Outkast could possibly be the best rappers alive. i stand by that.
Humble Mumble. 3k’s flow was bonkers.
Too Democratic, Republic fuck it
We chicken nugget, we dip in the sauce like mop and bucket
Blue-collar scholars, who’ll take your dollar and wipe my ass wit it
You living for the lotto never hit it, I met a critic
I made her shit her draws
She said she tought Hip Hop was only guns and alcohol
COME ON!!!
check out my top 10 andre 3000 verses!! alot of hard work put into this so just check it out for me…outkast fans stand up!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IsVb2Hutnw
by far,
“so i’m watching her fine ass walk to my bedroom and thought to myself that’s the shape of things to come.”
no doubt old tracks are great, but Da Art Of Storytelling Pt.4 with DJ Drama is when i fell hard.
Those of y’all nuttin over DAOS Pt. 4 must be 21 years of age or younger……it is one of the DOPEST VERSES EVER (not just from Dre) but damn, he got so many from ATLiens and Aquemini that you couldn’t possibly think of DAOS pt. 4 at first pass through his catalog.
Lots of love for Andre.
Agreed…the verse from DAOS 4 was the truth and I’m well over 21.
not saying it was the greatest but it was def what opened my eyes to the genius of Andre 3000.
Synthesizer should most def. be on this list, he tore that thing up something serious, so too the last verse on aquemini… but really every song on Aquemini album. But what about A life of the day of benjamin andre or from the walk it out remix .. “if you say real talk … probably wont trust ya…”
dre ghostwritin for big was before southernplayalistic
What about ATLiens… “I came into this world high as a bird/from second hand cocaine powder I know it sounds absurd”
Seems a lot of you are confusing “hardest verses” with best verses.
Speaking of hard verses, how has nobody mentioned “?” yet?
I reply that I been goin through the same struggle he has. true I got more fans than the average man, but not enough loot to last me. Til the end of the week, I live by the beat, like you live check to check. So if you dont move your feet, then I dont eat, so we like neck to neck.
@Machine…. guilty hahaha. That quote is a great verse, not a hard one though.
how do you forget his verse on Goodie Mobs - thought process? (my fav verse of all time besides his verse on mamacita)
best 3000 verse(actually one of my all time top 5
“Softly as if I play piano in the dark
found a way to channel my anger not to embark
the world’s a stage and everybody got to play they part
God works in mysterious ways but when he talks the gospels speaking to us
we be so sincere wit tha tears no drugs or alcohol so I can get the signal clear as day”
I put my glock away i got a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition so I’m ready for war okay
(Atliens off of Atliens)
not to mention Boi comes on next and kills his verse also
gotta go listen to that shit now
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